Machine for bending basket-handles.



w. s. SMITH. MAUHINE FOR BBNDING BASKET HANDLES.

- v APPLIOATION TILED JAN. 2, 1908. 900,890.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

\NfQ B W. S. SMITH. MAGHINE FOR BENDING BASKET HANDLES.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 2, 190,8."

' Patented 0013.13,]908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wqs. SMITIL MAGHINE FOR BENDING BASKET HANDLES.

Patented 0012.13,]908.

W. 8. SMITH.

MACHINE FOB BENDING BASKET HANDLES.

AIZPLIOATION FILED JAN. 2. 1908.

Patented Oct. 13,1908.

' mzwvmiii PATENT onrrcn.

WALTER SCOTT SMITH, OF PADUOAH, KENTUCKY.

MACHINE FOR BENDING- BASKET-HANDLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

Application filed January 2, 1908. Serial No. 108,962.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WATLER S. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Paducah, State of Kentucky, have invented a new and usefulhfiachine for Bending Basket-Handles, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to, machines for bending basket handles suchasused in con nection with grape, and other fruit baskets, marketbaskets, bushel'baskets, and in fact wherever broad splints or similarstrips are to be used as handles.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine designed toautomatically supply blanks to bending mechanism which operates to bendsaid blanks into proper shape and direct them into a holder carried bythe machine.

Another object is to provide simple mechanism for successively operatingthe shaping mechanism and holder so that said holder will be fedlongitudinally within the machine with a step by step movement, the

movement occurring immediately subse quent to the projection of eachhandle blank thereinto.

Another object is to provide novel means for feeding the blanks into theshaping mechamsm a I A still further object is to provide means underthe control of a single operator whereby the shaping and feedingmechanism can be promptly started or stopped, the controlling meansbeing so located that one person can supply blanks to the machine andalso control its operation.

With these and other objects in View the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction and combinations of parts which will behereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of theinvention.

In said drawingsaFigure 1 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 isa rear elevation thereof with the cam wheel removed. Fig. 3 is anelevation of the machine taken in the direction of arrow on in Fig. 1.is an elevation of the machine taken in the direction of arrow 1) inFig. 1. Fig. 5 is an inner elevation of the cam wheel; 7 Fig. 6 is adetail view of the means utilized for shifting the-drive shaft. Fig. 7is a detail view of one of the feed slides and a part of its in thecounty of McCracken and" Fig. 4

driving mechanism. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the holding rack, a portionthereof being broken away, and handles being shown in position therein.Fig. 9 is a transverse section through said rack. Fig. 10 is a sectionon line a::2c, Fig. 2, said section being taken only through the rearportion of the machine. Fig. 11 is a central verticallongitudinalsection through the machine. Fig. 12 is a section on'line zy, Fig, 11. Fig. 13 is a section on line z z, Fig. 12.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 11 designate thelegs of the supporting frame which in the present instance is made up ofangular parallel side plates 2-2 connected in any preferred manner andsupporting a bed 3 made up of parallel longitudinally extending angleirons 4 suitably reinforced as by means of diagonal braces 5 which may,if desired, be arranged as shown in Fig. 1. Located between the sideplates 2 and below the bed 3 is a table 6 on which are secured parallelguides 7 lapping feed slides 8 in the form of bars each of which has alongitudinal slot 9 for the reception of a rock arm 10. These rock armsare secured to a shaft 11 extending transversely of the frame andmounted in brackets 12 outstanding therefrom. One of the side plates 2at each side of the machine is cut away longi tudinally as indicated at13 and secured within these cut away portions are vertical plates 14 oneof which has an end flange 15 constituting an abutment for a stack ofhan dleblanks A. designed to be placed upon the table 6 and to extendtransversely of the frame and through the cut away portions 13, saidstack resting against the plates 14 and the end flange 15 as clearlyindicated in Fig. 3. At the front of the machine a plate 16 is placedparallel with the plates 14 and is spaced therefrom a sufficientdistance to permit the blanks to be readily inserted between the platesby the operator. Ways 17 are arranged vertically upon the inner faces ofthe frame and mounted between them is a conveying and shaping plunger 18movable in a path extending across the inner edge of the table 6. Theupper end of the plunger is rounded and of the sha e to which the blanksare tobe bent and t is plunger is designed to move upwardly into aholding frame movably mounted upon the machine and which will behereinafter more fully described. The plunger has a pitman 19 connectedat its lower portion and to a crank extending from shaft 21. This shaftcarries a pulley 22 located at the front of the machine and providedupon its inner face with a cam wheel 23 provided with eccentricallyarranged grooves 24 and for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

Brackets 26 extend from the legs at one side of the machine andjournaled within these brackets is a sleeve 27 having an eccentric bore28 in which is journaled a shaft 29. A drive pulley 30 is located at oneend of this shaft while connected to the other end thereof is a frictionpulley 31 designed to shift into frictional engagement with pulley 22.An arm 32 extends from the sleeve 27 and is connected by means of a link33 with the elbow portion 34; of a rectangular lever 35. This lever isrigidly secured to a rock shaft 36 journaled in the legs at one side ofthe frame, said shaft constituting the fulcrum of the lever. [in arm 37is carried by one end of the rock shaft 36 and is provided with a brakeshoe 38 which is held normally in contact with the periphery of pulley22 by means of a spring 39 connected to lever and to the frame, saidspring exerting a constant upward pull upon the lever 35.

Slidably mounted in the rear side of the frame of the machine andbetween the spaced plates 2 is a vertically movable cross head 40 heldagainst displacement by means of guide plates 41 which extend across theopening between the plates 2. This cross head has a recess 12 designedto be loosely engaged by the inturned end of an oscillating arm 43 whichis secured to and extends from the shaft 11 heretofore referred to.Another guide plate 44 is fastened to the lower portion of the crosshead and travels upon the rear face of the frame and secured to thisplate is a r ller 45 which projects into the groove 24 in cam wheel 23.

Pivotally mounted on shaft 11 is a walking beam 46 having a roller 47 atits lower end which projects into the groove 25 in cam wheel 23. Thiswalking beam extends upward to one side of the bed and has a pawl 47pivotally connected to its upper end, said pawl having wire or otherflexible device 48 fastened to one end thereof and extending downward toan arm 49 located at one end of a rock shaft 50. This shaft is journaledwitl in the plates at one side of the frame and has a foot lever 51extending from it at the front end of the machine where it can beconveniently reached by the operator.

As heretofore stated the bed 3 is formed of parallel angle irons 4 andslidably mounted upon the angle irons is a carriage made up oflongitudinal bottom strips 52 connected at their ends by bowed crossstrips 53 each of which carries a button 54. A ratchet bar 55 isarranged along the rear face of the bed 3 and is connected to thecarriage 52 by means of parallel arms 56 disposed adjacent op'po-' sitefaces of one of the angle irons t and biovided with suitable connectingmeans such as pins 57 on which are mounted anti-friction rollers 58designed to travel upon the upper edge of the angle iron 4. The pawl i7is held normally in engagement with the ratchet bar by means of a spring59 which is fastened to the rear face of the frame.

A holder 60 is designed to be placed upon the carriage 52 and to fitbetween the cross pieces 53 and this holder is in he form of arectangular frame preferably of wood as shown in t; and the openingtherein is sufficiently wide to permit the upper end of the plunger 18to force one. or more blauhs thereinto so as to assume the positioniudi-- cated in Fig. l). iinti-friction rollers til are mounted upon theinner faces of the walls of the frame at opposite sides of the path ofthe plunger 18 and slightly above the table on which the blanks aremounted.

An adjustable hanger (32 is ctmnected to one of the legs 1 as indicatedin Fig. l and has an arm. (53 extending laterally from the lower portionthereof and under tl c brake shoe 2; for the purpose of limiting thedonuward movement of said. shoe and the corresponding movement of lever35.

It will. be noted that the two foot lex ers 535 and 51 are located atthe front of the machine and it will therefore be apparent tha t theoperator standing at this point for the pin-pose of supplying blanksbetween the plates i l and 16, see i 1, can readily operate both of thelevers. When the blanks are seated upon the table 6 the lower ones ofthe slack. preferably three of them are disposed in the paths of thefeed slides 8. The holding frame 60 is placed upon the carriage 52 andbetween the cross strips 53 and is secured by means of buttons 54. Theoperator then depresses lever 51 so as to raise the pawl 47 whereupon.carriage 52 can be shifted longitudinally upon the bed 3 until the endtooth of the ratchet bar 55 is brought into position below the pawl 47.Lever til c: n then be re leased and spring 5.) will pull the pawldownward into engagement with the ratchet bar. Pulley 30 rotatescontinuously the same. be ing driven by a belt or in any other suitablemanner.

To shape the handles the operator pushes downward with his foot uponlever :35. This causes link to pull forward on arm 32 and at the sametime brake shoe 3+; will be removed from frictional engagement withpulley 22. The swinging movement of arm 32 causes the sleeve 27 t partlyrotate and to shift the shaft 29 so as to bring pulley I'll into contactwith the pulley 22. Moiiou will therefore be transmitted from pulleyIll) through shaft 29 and pulley 31 to pulley The cam wheel 23 rotateswith pulley 22 and the grooves 2 1 and 2! are so disposed that,

lift) immediately prior to the up-stroke of plunger 18 which is causedby the rotation of crank 20, the roller is pushed downward so as tocause the cross head 40 to operate arm 43 and cause the rock arms 10 topush the feed slides 8 inwardly and force those of the blanks in thepaths thereof beyond the table 6 and onto the rising end of plunger 18.This plunger continues its upward movement and forces the blanks intothe holding frame causing them to bow as indicated in Fig. 9 and pushingthem upward into the frame a sufliclent distance to cause them to remainfixed therein by reason of their frictional engagement with the frame.Upon the downward stroke of the lunger and as soon as it has beenremovec from engagement with the bowed blanks the walking beam 46 isactuated by the cam wheel 23 so as to actuate the pawl 47 to shift thecarriage longitudinally for the length of one tooth. engagement with the,neXt tooth and the operation hereinbefore described will be repeated.As soon as the operator releases the ever 35 its spring 89 will returnit to normal position and throw the brake shoe 38 against pulley 22 torom tly sto it. This reverse movement 0' the. ever wi also of courseremove the pulley 31 from engagement with said pulley 22. After theholding frame has been filled with bent blanks as a result-of therepetition of the operation herein described, said frame can be removedfrom the carriage 52, by turning the buttons 54. Another frame can besubstituted therefor and the carriage returned to its initial positionso that the operations can be repeated.

It is of course to be understood that the feed slides can be soconstructed as to direct any desired number of blanks onto the lungeralthough it is preferred to'shift three blanks at a time.

The anti -friction rollers 61 constitute means against which the blanksbear while being pushed upward by the plungen As these blanks are foldedand pushed into the holding frame they travel upon the rollers andfrictionis thus reduced to the minimum.

In order that a stack of blanks may be promptly moved downward onto thetable 6 as soon as the shuttles have been removed from under the stack astrap 64 is hingedly connected to the front wall of the bed 3 asindicated at 65 and bears at its free end upon the stack, said free endcarrying a weight 66 as indicated inFig. 3.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination-with a holder;'of av plunger shiftable into theholder, anti-friction devices at opposite sides of the path of theplunger, and means for shifting blanks under'said devices and into thepath'of the plunger.

2. In a bending machine'the combination Said pawl will then work backinto with a slidable holder and a-reciprocating conveying and shapingplunger movable into the holder; of reciprocating means for directingblanks into the path of the plunger.

.3. The combination with a removable holder and means for impartingintermittent longitudinal movement thereto; of a shaping and conveyingplunger movable into the holder between the movements of said holder,and means fixed relative to and cooperating with the plunger for bendingblanks upon the plunger.

. 4. The combination with a removable holding frame, and means forintermittently moving the same longitudinally; of a plunger movable intothe holder while stationary, and means fixed relative to and cooperatingwith the plungerfor bending blanks upon the plunger prior to themovement of the plunger into the holder.

5. A holder, shaping means movable thereinto, a feed slide, means forreciprocating the slide to direct blanks into the .ath of the shapingmeans, and means fixer. relative to and cooperating with the shapingmeans for bending blanks thereon.

6. The combination with a holder, and means for imparting anintermittent longitudinal movement thereto; of a combined conveying andshaping plunger, means for reciprocating the same, said plunger beingmovable into the holder while the holder is stationary, slidable meansfor directing blanks into the path of the plunger while moving towardthe holder. 7

7. The combinationwith a holder, and means for imparting an intermittentlongitudinal movement thereto; of a plunger, means for directing theplunger upwardly into the holder, means for feeding blanks into the pathof the plunger, and means fixed relatively to and cooperating with theplunger for bending the blanks during the upward stroke of the plunger.

8. The combination with a carriage and means for imparting anintermittent longitudinal movement thereto; of a holder de-- tachablymounted upon the carriage, a plunger movable upwardly into the holderbetween the movements of the carriage, means for directing blanksbetween the plunger and holder, and means'fixed relatively to andcooperating with the plunger for bending the blanks prior to theirmovement into the holder.

9. The combination with a carriage, and means for imparting anintermittent longitudinal movement thereto; of a holder detachablysecured upon and movable with the carriage, a plunger movable upwardlyinto the holder between the movements of the carriage, a stack holder,means for directing blanks from the stack holder and into the path ofthe plunger, and means fixed relatively to and cooperating with theplunger during the upward movement of said plunger for bending theblanks prior to their movement into the movable holder.

10. The combination with a bed and a holder thereon; of a stack holder,slidable means for removing blanks from the stack, a reciprocatingmember, a rocking element for transmitting motion from said member tothe blank removing means, and a reciprocating plunger, said plungerbeing disposed upon each upward movement to direct a blank into theholder on the bed.

11. The combination with a table and a stack holder; of Weighted blankholding means movably mounted above the stack holder, reciprocatingmeans for removing blanks from the stack and projecting them beyond thetable, a plunger mounted to travel perpendicularly'to the table forengagement with blanks projected therefrom.

12. The combination With a table, a stack holder thereon, and Weightedmeans for bearing upon a stack holder; of a reciprocating feed slidemounted upon the table for removing blanks from the stack and projectingthem beyond the table, a longit nlinally movable holder supported abovethe table, means for imparting an intermittent movement thereto, and aplunger for lifting the projected blanks into the movable holder.

13. The combination with a table, a stack holder thereon, and weightedmeans for bearing upon a stack holder; of a reciprocating teed. slidemounted upon the table lor removing blanks from the stack and projectingthem beyond the table, a longitinlinally movable holder supported abovethe table, means for imparting an intermittent movement thereto, aplunger for lifting the projected blanks into the movable holder, andmeans lixed relative to and cooperating with the plunger for bending theblanks during the movement of the plunger toward the movable holder.

14. The combination with a table, a bed thereabove, an intermittentlymovable earriage mounted upon the bed and. a holder removably mountedupon the carriage; of a. plunger mounted to reciprocate toward and fromsaid. holder past the table, reeiproeab ing means for removing blanksfrom the table and directing them into the path ol' the plunger, meansl'or reelproeatmg the plunger, a cross head mounted to reclprmalteadjacent the table, revoluble means for aetuating the cross head, andmeans operated by said cross head for simultaneously actuating the earriage and the blank removing means.

In testimony that l claim the l'oregoing as my own, I have heretoallixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

QUITE R SCOTT SM! 'll l lVitnesses:

N. V. Crnuvson; ISABELLE FAIRGIIILI).

